2018 Regional Building Safety Month Activities

Building Safety Month (BSM) is a public awareness campaign celebrated by jurisdictions worldwide during the month of May for the past 38 years to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.

All communities need building codes to protect their citizens from disasters like fires, weather-related events and structural collapse. Building codes are society’s best way of protecting homes, offices, schools, manufacturing facilities, stores and entertainment venues. Code officials work day in and day out to keep the public safe.

The campaign is presented by the International Code Council and its 64,000 members worldwide along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities. Corporations, government agencies, professional associations, nonprofits and more come together to support BSM because they understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where we live, work and play.

This year you have a better chance than ever to win catered lunch for your office and training for up to 40 employees, just by telling us about your jurisdiction’s Building Safety Month campaign! We have expanded the categories and increased the number of winners:

Best campaign, jurisdiction under 10 employees

Best campaign, jurisdiction 10 to 40 employees

Best campaign, jurisdiction over 40 employees

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase programs and initiatives that promote safety in the built environment for the residents in your locality. Not only do you look out for their safety where they live work and play, you are also a part of the community – you coach, you teach, you mentor.

Some ideas:

Invite a local elected official to make a public proclamation
Set up a booth at a local building supply or hardware store
Celebrate graduates of your local High School Technical Training Program

Each year the International Code Council (ICC) sponsors National Building Safety Month in May. To celebrate Building Safety Month, the City of Alexandria’s Department of Code Administration will host the 6th annual Building Safety Month, “Kick-off Event” on Friday, May 4, 2018 at Market Square in front of City Hall (301 King St.), 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Building Safety Month is an annual public awareness campaign to help residents and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The event focuses on promoting building safety as well as the businesses and organizations involved in maintaining building safety throughout the City.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY BUILDING SAFETY MONTH KICK OFF EVENT

May 1 @ 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Event Navigation

Virginia Building Code Officials Association (VBCOA) Region V is partnering with Prince William County to help promote the Building Safety Month campaign.

We are kicking off the month with a special event on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, located at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge, Va.

We commend Prince William County’s efforts to promote building safety among industry professionals and the community. It’s our pleasure to partner with them for this year’s special event. The agenda will include a short presentation, a brief ceremony, partner tables showcasing building safety products and lunch will be provided.

This year there is a unique opportunity for Prince William County to showcase some of their students that are currently enrolled in the ICC High School Technical Program they have a full day of a “Behind the Scenes” tour and training opportunity of the local Building Department, this is to include Plan Review, Building Code Enforcement, Permitting and Legal Aspects of the Building Code.

Recognizing the Silent Protectors

​May is Building Safety Month, and during a recent ceremony at the Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, Prince William Chairman Corey Stewart explained that this recognition serves to remind people of the importance of ordinances and building regulations.

Stewart told the story of the Iroquois Theatre Fire in Chicago that killed at least 603 people on Dec. 30, 1903. Those deaths were the direct result of building codes that weren’t up to par, said Stewart. Fire escapes at the theater were insufficient. Most of the 30 exit doors were locked and the doors opened inward, which prevented people from opening them in the press of the crowd. “These types of incidents led to the development of the international fire code and building code that we have today,” Stewart said.

Cindy Davis, deputy director of the Division of Building and Fire Regulation with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, also spoke at the event and said that Virginia is known for its comprehensive building code and that Prince William County officials share the knowledge and expertise to make sure building codes are met. “The leadership in Prince William puts you and your locality in the spotlight statewide and nationally.”

Davis went on to say that it’s hard to say how many lives are saved because of safe buildings, but safe buildings do prevent disasters. “You cannot quantify what does not happen, so the importance of what you do every day is rarely recognized.”

Bryan Soukup, the government relations regional manager for the International Code Council, echoed Davis’ comments. “It’s important because building code officials and fire officials are first defenders and our silent protectors. When building and fire code officials do their job right, nothing happens.”

For more information about the many agencies that work closely together to ensure the safety of the buildings in Prince William County, visit www.pwcgov.org/dds.